Kate West, 26, is being detained by police in the Gambian capital, Banjul, on suspicion of murdering 76year-old William West. The retired businessman had been missing since 3 July and his wife had initially told friends that he had disappeared while on a visit to Senegal. However, his body was discovered this week after Kate West led police to his charred remains close to the couple's holiday home in the fishing village of Sanyang.

According to assistant police superintendent Demba Sowe, a cause of death has yet to be established. The Irishman's wife is being detained on a holding charge but has yet to be formally charged with his killing.

The couple married in Britain six years ago, shortly after meeting while the retired businessman was on holiday in the west African country. William West lived in Sussex but made regular trips to Africa. He had been recently widowed when he met his future wife, who was 50 years his junior.

The Wests returned to Africa on 9 June and planned on spending a number of weeks in Gambia before returning to England. However, Kate West returned to England on her own last week, claiming her husband had gone missing during their vacation.

Police in Sussex were alerted to his disappearance, as were Interpol and police in Gambia. Kate West was interviewed by police close to her home in Hastings and was urged to return to Gambia in order to help police there with their investigations.

The body of William West was discovered shortly after his widow had arrived back in west Africa. His remains had been badly burnt and tests are currently being carried out in order to establish how he died. It has not yet been established whether his body was set alight before or after he was killed.

Aziz Bojang, a spokesman for the police in Gambia, confirmed that Kate West was being held in connection with the death of her husband and described her as "the prime suspect" for his murder.